Day 92 17th May 2017
With Leonard Cohen lyrics swimming in our heads we stride out in Berlin.
First stop The Wall. How to choose where to start – so many museums, so may opportunites.
We decide on the East Side Gallery and practice our new transport skills to get there.
On the way we come upon a street name and plaque which we investigate further to find the story of an Afro-German woman poet and activist May Ayim
We cross the river at the Oberbaum bridge – an ancient crossing more recently a checkpoint for the East – West wall.
Once across the river the wall appears in front of us. Smaller, lower and thinner than imagined from all those news reports, Here the wall has been turned into an art gallery – the East Side Gallery an impressive one plus kilometres of art on what what the Berlin wall.
Within this precinct is a relatively new museum The Wall Museum at East Side Gallery we decided to visit. Great use of audio- visual with news reels and articles constructing the story. Worthwhile museum.
By this time it was way past lunch and we walked up to the Ubahn station looking for food that was not a themed restaurant or Pirate ship. Pleasant looking courtyard restaurant was closed but the waitress recommended the Donor Kebab down the road. Excellent choice. Small simple cafe – great Donor.
With a new lease on life we headed to the Brandenburg Gate another ancient structure that became symbolic to those of us growing up through the era that was the Berlin Wall.
As we wandered on this perfect afternoon it was moved closer to perfection by Cellist busking in front of the Gates.
After listening to the buskers beautiful music and sitting in a cafe inf front of the gates for a mineral water we wandered up to the Bundestag and its surrounding park. Chris made another attempt to get us a table at the restaurant under the dome however we were too little, too late.
Continuing our walk we got to the Hauptbanhof – a well appointed busy station however we seemed to have great trouble finding our way home – up and down, around and around we went. Finally making it home.
Dinner finally – at home – a Green Thai Curry translated both to English and our table
